What legal actions can I take if a dog bit my son? 39 Answers as of February 21, 2012

You should contact an attorney immediately. This sounds like a very serious claim. In Missouri you have five years to file such a lawsuit, but you should move quickly before evidence is lost, memories fade, and that dog becomes older and more docile! If you have any further questions or would like help with your case, please feel free to contact my office.

You can file a claim against the dog owners. Call me to discuss, if you wish.

You have a viable claim if the dog has a history as you say. Question is how bad the injury is, what the bills are and what the drs say about scarring etc.

You can bring a claim against the at-fault parties. However, you probably should determine early whether the person had homeowners insurance or not because that will affect the likelihood of receiving compensation.

You can bring an action against the owners.

You may have a legal claim against the owners of the dog. I would recommend contacting an attorney to discuss your case.

You can sue for the injuries to your son. What you need to prove depends on the state. Here in Washington you do not need to prove that the dog is dangerous. The owner is responsible unless your son provoked the dog.

It sounds serious enough that you should call a lawyer. If the dog has bitten before and the owner allowed circumstances to exist that allowed the dog to bite again, then you should be able to recover. Stay well.

Your legal recourse depends on if you can prove the dog has bitten someone before. Virginia follows the "One Bite Rule" which summed up states, that if a dog has never shown aggressive behavior before and has never bitten someone before, then there is no legal liability for the dogs owner. However, the flip side of the rule is that if the dog has bitten someone before or has a history of aggressive behavior, then the dogs owner is strictly liable for any damage the dog caused. I would be happy to speak with you regarding this matter. Please feel free to contact me to discuss this matter in detail.

It sounds as though you (on behalf or your son) have a good case against the owner of the dog. In California dog owners are held Strictly Liable for the injuries caused by their dogs. Meaning that the owner of the dog is responsible for your injuries no matter what caused the dog to bite, or whether the dog has bitten others in the past. Generally, a dog owner's homeowner's insurance policy (assuming they have one) extends to cover these types of situations. Dog bite cases can be quite complex, especially in light of the emotional/psychological aspect of dog bites and the potential for long term/permanent scaring. (Both of these factors are much more significant in circumstances involving children.) Please keep in mind that the "value" of your son's case is not limited to the medical bills which have been incurred, but rather will take into account the numerous ways this incident may impact his life. We have handled hundreds of dog bite cases and are extremely experienced in this area of the law. Please visit the dog bite resource center on our web site for detailed information on your rights and how we can help you/your son; or feel free to call our office for a free consultation.